In 1928, a group of energized students at the University of Pittsburgh, answered the call of Mrs. Ruth Crawford Mitchell and stepped up to accept the challenge of creating the Greek Nationality Room. They enlisted regional immigrants of Greek descent, some in position of leadership of the then young – but so energetic – Greek community, to join them in this challenge. Over the next 15 years, the students, all who eventually graduated and began successful careers, were able to dedicate the Greek Nationality Room in 1941, 80 years ago.

Due to economic development and globalization, cities continue to grow with predictions that 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by the year 2050. This course, then, will view cities as hubs where patterns, connections, discussions, and the processes shape such issues as social justice, economic development, technology, migration, the environment among others. By examining cities as a lens, this sequence of weekend courses encourages students to examine cities as a system for discussing social processes being built and rebuilt.

Join the Center for African Studies for a meet-and-greet with students, faculty, and staff to kick off an exciting new year! We will enjoy some food while we talk about the Center's plans for the year. We look forward to seeing you!

Valdis Dombrovskis is the Executive Vice President of the European Commission for An Economy that Works for People and European Commissioner for Trade. On the heels of the EU-US Technology and Trade Council (TTC) meeting in Pittsburgh on September 29th, Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis will sit down with Pitt Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Erica Owens, for a conversation about the TTC, transatlantic trade, and the future of the EU-US relationship. Students and faculty are encouraged to participate.

The Limits of Judicialization: From Progress to Backlash in Latin American Politics

Panelists:
Sandra Botero, Universidad de Rosario
Daniel Brinks, The University of Texas at Austin
Ezequiel González-Ocantos, University of Oxford

Moderated by:
Raúl Sánchez-Urribarri, La Trobe University

Facilitated by Dr. Jean-Jacque Ngor Sène, Associate Professor of History and Cultural Studies, Chatham University

Germany After Merkel

Panellists: Jana Puglierin, ECFR; Rafael Loss, ECFR; Marcel Lewandowsky, UF CES and DAAD

On September 26, Germany elected a new parliament. With it a new coalition government will come to power and Angela Merkel will depart the political stage after serving for 16 years as federal chancellor. Who might succeed her? What will be the foreign policy priorities of the new government? And how do Germany’s European partners view Merkel’s legacy and Germany’s role in Europe?

For the 2021-22 academic year, the European Studies Center has announced its annual programmatic theme: “Recovering Europe.” The December roundtable will discuss the COP26 summit and how it impacts the European Green Deal. Hosted in Glasgow, UN Climate Change Conference 2021 aims to build off of the Paris Climate Agreement. European Studies Center Director Jae-Jae Spoon will moderate this roundtable.

Audience participation encouraged.

#CoE

The effects of COVID-19 have been felt unevenly across Europe, a trend which continues into the recovery from the pandemic. In this panel, experts will discuss how these inequalities have been felt on an individual level and at the national level in terms of health and educational outcomes and economic impacts.
Panelists:
Holly Jarman, University of Michigan
Julia Lynch, University of Pennsylvania
Martin Myant, European Trade Union Institute
Sylke Schnepf, JRC-European Commission
Moderated by Jae-Jae Spoon, University of Pittsburgh